Put a Price on Carbon?

In the rational world The Market would reflect the cost of ecological damage with a price on carbon. Yeah right! And in Wonderland, the White Rabbit could lead us to the Queen! According to today's NYTimes, the Trump administration just nixed the whole "social cost of carbon" farce, and good riddance I say. The sooner people understand that Capital has no intention of "going green" ( in ways that impact profit), the better. Here is how the new head of the EPA explains it: “The Biden-Harris Administration’s so-called ‘social cost of carbon’ measurement was used to advance their climate agenda in a way that imposed major costs. To Power the Great American Comeback, we are fully committed to removing regulations holding back the U.S.,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. Pretty straightforward. If it cuts into profit, it's gone. American greatness = maximum profit and putting a price on pollution holds us back. Simple logic. My critique from the first time I heard of the concept of "social cost of carbon" was that the so-called "cost/price" was totally arbitrary, a political calculation with no relation to actual ecological impacts. Obama put the price of a ton of CO2 at 42 dollars. Trump eliminated it. Biden put it at 112 dollars. Some scientists will tell you it should be 450 dollars per ton. I say 780. No. 960. whatever. let's make it an even grand. We were led to believe there was some scientific basis for this market adjustment, but think about it. What is the "cost" of species extinction? Of tens of thousands of deaths due to increased temperatures? The "cost" of mass migration due to climate stress? Pick your own number. Here is how capitalism works: ". On Jan. 21, 2025, President Trump issued another Order (Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity) that rescinded Executive Order 12898. " "Illegal discrimination" refers to placing concerns about justice or equity above concerns about profit. "Restoring merit-based opportunity" means the government will make all decisions based on what makes the most profit, and is therefore most deserving, ie.. has the most "merit". Obviously fossil fuels have the most merit and should not be discriminated against just because a bunch of hippies think they are bad. This is why Our Big Boy is off to the Middle East to schmooze with shieks and crown princes. "We would rather be ruined than change." WH Auden "...the common ruin of the contending classes." Marx